True Life Stories: Dr. Oyenusi

In the History of crime in Nigeria, Oyenusi was a
cold-blooded armed robber who held sway in the early 70’s, stands on a very
special threshold that none can ever dream of attaining. He was a terror. He
and his gang carried about operations in Lagos City and neighbouring states.

In criminalbooks, Dr
Oyenusi was the first celebrity armed robber in Nigeria in those days.

He took the Nation by storm shortly after the Civil War ended
and before he was executed on Wednesday, September 8, 1971, at the famous Bar
Beach show in front of 30,000 watchingNigerians, no one believed that ‘The Doctor’ would be captured, as he
was famed for ‘disappearing’ or his body not penetrable by bullets.

His full range of crimes included armed robbery, carjacking,
and murder. He robbed banks and looted stores. It is safe to say, Ishola
Oyenusi was a menace. He unleashed boundless terror on many Nigerians and would
even kill for a stick of cigarette.

He called himself Dr. Oyenusi to be fancy. He was far from a
medical doctor. Information on his background is sketchy. His date of birth is
not known. It is however known that he came from a poor background which
ultimately led to a life of crime. His parents couldn’t afford his secondary
school education, so he had to drop out.

He committed
his first major robbery when he snatched a car along Herbert Macaulay Road in
Yaba, Lagos, and killing its owner just because his girlfriend was broke and
needed money to buy her make-up. He eventually sold the car for 400pounds
(Nigeria’s currency then) and handed the money to the lady. He actually
snatched the first car he saw on the road. Such was the ferocious nature of his
audacity.

This is the
reason why he is sometimes referred to as the romantic armed robber.

He had a
mean streak in him also as he was hot headed and very arrogant, even to the
law.

His
professional criminal career started after the Civil War in 1970. Dr. Oyenusi
and his gang of robbers went on a spree, robbing banks and killing people in
cold blood. His knack for killing his victims made people call him “Doctor Rob
and Kill”.

By the end
of the Civil War, Oyenusi had metamorphosed into a cold-hearted robber who took
delight in causing pains to his victims.

Oyenusi’s
arrogance was also legendary. In 1970, he was arrested and handcuffed by a
Police Officer. As the Policeman was ordering him around, Oyenusi blasted him
and thundered : “People like you don’t talk to me like that when I am armed. I
gun them down'.

When
Oyenusi reigned at the height of his regal confidence, he declared: ‘The bullet
has no effect over me’.

His last
robbery was when he and his gang attacked the WAHUM factory in Ikeja in March
1971, where they stole 28,000 pounds, which was unprecedented in those days. A
Police officer was killed in the process.

The
Nigerian Police Force caught him during the armed robbery operation. Justice
was swift for the dare devil killer. He was sentenced to death.

On the
day of Dr. Oyenusi’s execution (which took place at the Lagos Bar Beach by
firing squad), it was reported that about 30,000 Nigerians showed up to see his
end.

At 10
a.m, Oyenusi and his gang were brought in trucks. People booed them as they
slowly got down and marched towards their death.

According
to Old Naija, Oyenusi was “sweating profusely but managed to smile all the way
to the stakes .He kept smiling and smiling and smiling but could still not hide
the agony and terror written boldly on his face”. Some witnesses claim that he
would have never become a criminal if only his parents had had enough money to
send him to school.

After
journalists interviewed the criminals, the soldiers pointed the gun at them and
fired.